-Chapter IV- TOWNS, COMMUNITIES, AND MILITIA DISTRICTS (1880-1980)
McDonald's District
Georgia Militia District No. 1013 was formed in the 1850's and today is the largest of all Murray districts, stretching two-thirds of the way across the county from the Gilmer line to Shuck Pen District on the west. The eastern part of the district is dominated by Grassy Mountain, part of the Chattahochee National Forest, on which Lake Conasauga is located. Two towns, Crandall and Eton, are modern landmarks in the western part of McDonald's, but older communities like Hassler's, Dunn, Pleasant Valley, and Cohutta Springs are important in the area's heritage. Among the families that have played important roles in the district's history are the Loughridges, Keiths, Gregorys, Isenhowers, Hasslers, Summerours, Jacksons, Earnests, Bates', Harrises, Dunns, Terrys, Staffords, Boatwrights, Morelands, Jones, and Pannells.
The district is named for the McDonalds, once a very prominent, well-to-do family whose legacy is their fine brick home on the Old Federal Road south of Eton. The house, now owned by Judge and Mrs. Charles A. Pannell, was deeded to Mrs. Bryant (Sally) Russell by the McDonalds in 1889. Mrs. Russell and her children sold the house and farm to T.A. Pannell, Sr. (Judge Pannell's father) in 1910. According to Judge Pannell the house was built in the late 1830's and originally consisted of four bedrooms which now make up the front of the house. The kitchen, dining room, and servant's quarters were located northwest of these four rooms in another brick building. Judge Pannell and his wife, Ruth Ann, restored the house in the 1950's.
Past justices of the peace for McDonald's District include B.F.C. Loughridge (1883-95). M.W. Cloer (1885-89), J.P. Ash (1889-93). E.A. Earnest (1893-97), E.L. Bates (1909-17, 1933-37), B.R. James (1910-14), John N. Petty (1911-12) C.A. Strawn (1912-16). R.C. Shields (1916-21), G.W. Phillips (1921-29), w.a! Campbell (1928-32), and, for many years, R.A. Pierce, who was also local registrar in the 1930's. Lon Strickland succeeded Mr. Pierce as J.P.
The District's early school trustees were M.M. Bates (1877-84), Almon Quinn (1877-79), W.F. Peeples (1877-78). Daniel Isenhower (1879-82). James Smith (1879-82), Steven Gregory (1882), Benjamin Gregory (1884), O.K. Bates (1890-95), Lewis Terry (1890-92), James Gregory (1890-95), Duncan Terry (1892-95), C.C. Keith (1895), J.T. Gregory (1895-98), John Plemons (1895), and Robert Gregory (1898).
The first teachers in the District under the first Murray County Board of Education in 1877 were J.F. Harris, W.D. Gregory, B.A. Gregory, and P.M. Hubbard. Four schools were also operating in 1882 with Miss L.J. Bates, M.B. Harris, C.N. King, and Miss C.N. Bates as the educators. At various times schools for blacks also operated in the District. In 1881 H.A. Hill taught near D. Dunn's home and in 1900 Berta Peters had classes at a place called "Mouse Hill."
Murray County Heritage